Seed and fertilizer spreader

ABSTRACT

A machine is disclosed for travel along a linear course while simultaneously projecting seed and fertilizer for deposit along an area adjacent said course. A blower provides an airflow which passes through a mixing chamber whereat baffles, spaced in the direction of airflow, produce an area of reduced pressure. The seed and fertilizer are introduced into said chamber between the spaced apart baffles for unobstructed entry into the airflow. A discharge conduit assembly moves vertically during machine operation to spread the discharged material. Operator controlled means works in conjunction with flow regulating means to precisely regulate the flow of seed and fertilizer to the mixing chamber.

United States Patent 1191 Gallogly et al.

[ SEED AND FERTILIZER SPREADER [76] Inventors: Donald R. Gallogly, Route2, Box 232; William E. Wheeler, 610 3rd Avenue, both of Sweet Home,Oreg.

22 Filed: July 21, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 164,614

[52] US. Cl. ..222/145, 222/178, 222/193, 222/533, 239/655 [51] int. Cl...B67d 5/60 [58] Field of Search ..222/193, 176, 178, I 222/145, 561,533; 239/654, 656, 302/51, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,319 11/1921 Champlin..222/193 X 2,670,108 2/1954 Skogstap et al. ..222/561 2,988,250 6/1961Ryan ..222/561 683,950 10/1901 Leggett ..222/193 x 1,808,654 6/1931Hagens ..239/654 X 2,578,482 12/1951 Mindrup ..239/656 X [4 1 May 1,1973

8/1965 Patton ..222/193 X 8/1966 Cronin ..222/193 UX Primary ExaminerM.Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerJohn J. Love Attorney-James D.Givnan, Jr.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A machine is disclosed for travel along a linear coursewhile simultaneously projecting seed and fertilizer for mixing chamber.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEB MAY 1 I575 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORSDONALD R. GALLOGLY WILLIAM E WHEELER SEED AND FERTILIZER SPREADERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION problem encountered by such machines resultsfrom the forceful contact of the seeds against one another and themachine structure resulting in physical damage to the seeds whichinhibits or prevents germination. Similarly, the mixing of particulatedfertilizer in such a manner results in a portion of the fertilizerparticles being reduced to dust which is lost in air currents betweendischarge from the machine and the ground.

Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide a machine includingmixing means for interjecting seed and fertilizer into a pressurizedairflow in a non-injurious manner to ensure same remaining intact.

Some prior art machines subject the seeds and/or seeds and fertilizer tothe blades of a mechanical blower resulting in the above mentioneddamage to same. Other efforts attempted have been to inject seeds and/orseeds and fertilizer downstream from blower means against an undesiredreverse airflow which prevents controlled entry of the seed and/or seedand fertilizer. Their entry at best is in a non-precise,'random mannernot conducive to maintaining a desired rate of seed discharge or keepinga desired ratio of seed to fertilizer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is embodied in a machinefor depositing seed and fertilizer on wide strips of ground material maybe varied for purposes of desired ground coverage. The movement of thepresent machine along a roadway accompanied by continuous swingingmovement of the discharge conduit results in a uniform deposit of grassseed and fertilizer along a ground area several feet in width marginalto the roadway. While being shown as mounted on a trailer the presentmachine may obviously be supported by another type of mobile base.

It is an important object of the present machine to provide means forinjecting and mixing seed and fertilizer pellets into an airflow in aclosely controlled manner. An area of reduced pressure within theconduit results from baffle means with said low pressure areafacilitating the entry of the seed and fertilizer. Such material, beinginjected into the airflow downstream from the blower means, avoidsinjurious contact of the material with moving blower components. Damageto the seed shell is avoided and similarly the fertilizer pellets arekept intact insuring their ground deposit rather than their loss torandom air currents as occurs when reduced to dust by forceful contactwith the machine.

A further important object is the provision of a mobile spreader machineof compact size, transportable by truck or trailer and operable by asingle individual. All of the machine controls are conveniently locatedfor operation by a single operator contributing to low operational costswhich when coupled with the machines original cost of manufactureresults in a spreader attractive to a wide range of users.

A further object of the present invention is achieved by the provisionof manually controlled, settable, conlocated along roadways wherein itis necessary to cast I the seed and fertilizer over a distance ofseveral feet.

Important to the present machine is a mixing chamber receiving grassseed and fertilizer downstream from an airflow source, such as ablower,for injecting the seed and fertilizer material into the pressurizedairflow. Included' in the mixing structure are baffle means fordiverting a portion of the air streamimparting turbulence to same tofacilitate entry of the above mentioned material.

The present spreader machine includes hoppers,.

each having independently regulated flow control mechanisms for theprecise regulation of hopper contents to the mixing chamber. Theoperator may regulate the flow control means to achieve the desiredratio of seed to fertilizer as well as the rate of discharge of eachinto the mixing chamber. The control means includes settable frictionelements to overcome machine vibration.

A movable discharge conduit is swingably mounted on the machine toreceive the pressurized airflow and impart a trajectory to thedischarged material. Operator controlled means associated with saiddischarge conduit imparts swinging movement to same whereby thetrajectory of the discharged seed and fertilizer trol means for thefertilizer and grass seed which permit the operator to preciselyregulate the discharge from the hoppers. Changing conditions in theterrain of the area to be seeded will require the operator to makeadjustments from time to time in the rates of seed and fertilizer flow,the volume of air being discharged and the range of travel of thedischarge conduit. Toward these ends the operators station is providedwith convenient controls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the spreader with fragments brokenaway and parts sectioned for purposes of illustration,

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the spreader taken approximatelyalong irregular line 2 2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the portion of the spreader circledat 3 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view of a mixing chamber taken alongline 4 4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the spreader,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of flow regulating structure carried by a binand taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a manual control for the regulating of binflow taken along line 7 7 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continuing reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein applied reference numerals indicateparts similarly identified in the following specification, the referencenumeral 1 indicates a mobile base for the spreader which is shown as atrailer but may, of course, be in other forms such as the bed of a pickup truck with a requirement being that of forward motion at low speed, 4to 8 miles per hour. The trailer is provided with a rail 1a for safetyof the machine operator.

Secured in place on the bed 2 of the trailer is a welded steel framework3 which carries substantially all of the following described componentsin a pre-assembled manner and permitting their removal and installationon any other suitable mobile base if so desired.

Mounted within the framework 3 is a power source in the form of anengine 4 having the conventional engine accessories and driving acentrifugal blower 5 through power transmission means 6 which may be inthe form of a double V-belt drive. Blower 5 includes an exhaust duct at10 terminating in communication a mixing chamber later described indetail. In one embodiment of the invention the engine 4 is rated at 12horsepower to drive a 14 inch diameter blower fan at 1,650 RPM toprovide an entirely adequate airflow through a mixing chamber of 6 inchdiameter. If desired a clutch assembly may be interposed between theengine and transmission means, however, starting of the engine eithermanually or electrically is possible while in driving engagement withthe blower.

Additionally mounted within framework 3 are sideby-side hoppers with aseed hopper at 11 and a fertilizer hopper at 12. Seed hopper 11 hasdownwardly converging walls 13, 14 and 15 while a common upper wallportion 16 is vertical. The rearwardly disposed wall 13 serves to mountflow regulating means for both hoppers as later described. Fertilizerhopper 12 is similar to foregoing hopper with the differences providingan increased capacity by reason of walls 17 through 20 all beinginclined walls. The hoppers may be of any capacity however the chemicalfertilizer hopper will be of greater size by reason of the greaterproportional use of same to seed.

Flow regulating means indicated generally at 22 for the seed andfertilizer hoppers are identical hence the following description of onesuch means is believed adequate. With attention to FIGS. 2 and 6, thelower portion of hopper 11 is fitted with a pair of channels 23 onopposite sides of a rectangular hopper opening 11A (12A in hopper l2).Slidably carried within the channels and closing (in one position) theopening 11A is an elongate, light gauge steel plate 24 having an opening24A at its lower end and corresponding in size with opening 11A of thehopper and registerable therewith upon plate positioning. Secured to theouter flanges of the channels is a chute structure 25 for receiving theseed flow from the hopper 11 as regulated by the positioning of plate 24and the opening 24A therein. The chute structure is carried by saidouter flanges and is spaced from the adjacent wall hopper 11 to receivethe plate 24 in a close, sliding relationship to prevent any loss ofmaterial. The lower end of the chute terminates in a collar whichreceives a flexible conduit 26.

Operator controlled means is indicated generally at 28 for positioningof the slidable plates24 associated with each hopper. Said control meansincludes a pair of closely spaced levers 30 and 31 for single handedoperation by the spreader operator. Supporting the control levers are apair of inclined bases 32, 33 welded adjacent their lower ends to thehoppers 11 and 12. The inclined base 32 carries at its upper end (P16.7) a pair of oppositely disposed resilient, friction pads 34 outwardlyof which are mounted movable discs 35, 36. Extending through the discs,pads and the base end is a bolt member 37 having a helical spring 38 andnut elements 40 for biasing the foregoing components together andlocking same in adjusted relationship while permitting control levermovement. The disc 36 is provided with a laterally extending arm 41 toloosely receive a plate control rod 42 terminating downwardly inattachment with one plate 24. The remaining disc 35 has a depending armat 43 to which is pivotally linked at 44 to a connector bar 45 whichterminates in like pivoted attachment with an arm 46 (FIG. 2) carried bya disc 47 rotatably mounted on the second base 33. The last mentioneddisc additionally carries an arm 48 extending outwardly to looselyreceive a plate control rod 50 for the remaining plate 24 for regulatingseed flow. In similarity to the first described control means aresilient pad 51 is provided along with a bolt member 52, helical spring53 and nut elements 54 to permit setting of the degree of frictionbetween disc 47 and its support 33. The control levers so mounted arenot susceptible to movement from machine vibration and permit convenientlever adjustment by one hand of the operator.

The mixing chamber is indicated generally at 55 and includes an air duct56 receiving an airflow from the blower exhaust duct 10. A pair ofsleeves 57-58 receive the lower ends of the flexible conduits 26 whichsleeves are in open communication with the interior of air passageway astypically seen in FIG. 4. When the latter is of a 6 inch diameter it hasbeen found desirable to provide collars of approximately 2 inch insidediameter for both the seed and fertilizer flow.

A first or upstream baffle is indicated at 60, inclined in the directionof the airflow and being of planar shape having a curved upper edge 60Afor welded securement to the internal peripheral wall of the duct 56.Rearwardly, or downstream of the sleeve openings is a second ordownstream baffle at 62, similar in shape to the first described with acurved upper edge 62A but of opposite inclination i.e., toward theairflow and extends a somewhat lesser distance into the duct 56. Withcontinuing reference to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the airflow, shownby applied arrows, will be downwardly deflected by baffle 60.Accordingly, an area of reduced pressure is formed which includes thatarea intermediate the lower edges of the baffles 60, 62 with the latterbaffle serving to prevent a reverse airflow into the collar openings.The airflow being directed away from the collar defined openings in thepassageway permits entry of the seed and fertilizer material in anunopposed manner with the material entering the airflow intermediate theuneven lower chordal edges of the op positely inclined baffles. Oneentirely satisfactory form of baffle arrangement in a 6 inch diameterduct locates baffle 60 at approximately a 15 rearward inclination fromthe verticle while baffle 62 is of approximately 30 forward inclinationfrom the verticle all relative to airflow direction. In a circular airduct of the above noted diameter the baffles 60, 62 extend downwardlyapproximately one-third of the diameter with the baffle 60 extendingdownwardly approximately inch beyond the corresponding lower edge ofbaffle 62.

A movable discharge conduit assembly is indicated generally at 65,receiving the airbourne seed and fertilizer for discharge along atrajectory for ground deposit. Secured to the rearward end of air duct56 is a ring 66 annularly shouldered at 67 to receive a flanged collar68. Sadi conduit end is retained by a circular plate 70, secured bybolts 71 to the internally shouldered ring 66. Accordingly, the flangedcollar 68 is rotatably retained within ring 66 with a lubricationfitting at 72 provided for servicing purposes. Extending outwardly in anarc is a vconduit segment 73 extending approximatelythrough80 andterminating in a retention band 74. A pair of braces 75 are in weldedattachment between the first mentioned band 74 and a companion band 76disposed about the forward end of conduit 73. Said bands are providedwith outwardly turned pairs of ears to receive a bolt member (not shown)for clamping of said bands and hence securing the curved conduit 73about the collar 68 at one end and oppositely about one end of astraight conduit segment 77 carried within its opposite end.

The conduit segment 77 is swingable within an upright plane by means ofa control line 78 in pulley attachment at 79 with said conduit with theline 78 terminating in wound engagement with a manually operated drum80. Drum rotation causes movement of line 78 inwardly and outwardly pastpulleys 81-82 resulting in swinging movement being imparted to theentire conduit assembly 65. Accordingly as the mobile base advances andwith the operator actuating drum 80 first in one direction and then inthe other the seed and fertilizer materialwill be projected to the sideof the mobile base along a continuously changing trajectory to evenlyspread the material upon the strip of ground being seeded. v

A second set of pulleys. are provided at 83-84 for reeving of line 78which permits the discharge conduit assembly 68 to project towards theopposite side of the base 1 as seen in FIG. 5 in broken lines. A tubularframework 85 provides a support for the pulleys 81, 84. For travel toand from a worksite the straight conduit 77 may be removed from thecurved conduit 73 and secured in place along the railing of the mobilebase.

The operation of the spreader is believed evident from the foregoingdescription. The operator controls movement of the conduit assembly 65by manual rotation of drum 80 while a throttle at 86 permits enginespeed control. In most instances lever 30- 31, controlling the rate offlow of seed and fertilizer into the mixing chamber 55, will not requireadjustment during a seeding operation. The forward speed ofapproximately 5 to 7 miles per hour permits the operator to rotate drum80 at a convenient speed for the range of travel desired, usually withan upper limit of travel being about while at its lowermost limitapproaching the horizontal. The operator can visually ascertain whetheror not uniform ground coverage is being achieved.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been shown it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodiedstill otherwise without de arting from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

avmg thus described the invention what is desired to be secured under aLetters Patent is:

l. A spreader machine for depositing particulate material such as seedand chemical fertilizer along a ground strip adjacent the course of themachine, said machine comprising,

a mobile base,

a pair of juxtaposed hoppers for the storage of the particulatematerial, flow regulating means carried by said hopper means andregulating material discharge therefrom, said flow regulating meansincluding elongate apertured plates, channels spaced in parallel and carried by lower wall portions of said .hoppers and slidably mounting saidplates for rectilinear movement along said wall portions for adjustableregistration of the plate apertures with openings in the hopper wallportions to regulate the discharge from said hoppers, chutes each havinga rectangular upper periphery secured to said channels along two of itssides and each receiving the discharge flow from a hopper with theremaining two sides of the chutes being in sliding contact with a plateto prevent loss of particulate material,

operator controlled means coupled to said flow regulating means and'settable by the machine operator to adjust said flow regulating means,said operator controlled means including, independent control levers foradjustment of each of the plates of each flow regulating means, a pairof discs each supporting one end of a control lever, a base support forsaid discs, resilient pads interposed between said base support and eachof said discs, adjustable means extending through said support, pads anddiscs for biasing same into frictional engagement to prevent controllever vibratory movement,

a blower, and

an air duct defining a mixing chamber and receiving an airflow from saidblower, said air duct defining at least one opening for the entry of theregulated flow of particulate material into said duct.

1. A spreader machine for depositing particulate material such as seedand chemical fertilizer along a ground strip adjacent the course of themachine, said machine comprising, a mobile base, a pair of juxtaposedhoppers for the storage of the particulate material, flow regulatingmeans carried by said hopper means and regulating material dischargetherefrom, said flow regulating means including elongate aperturedplates, channels spaced in parallel and carried by lower wall portionsof said hoppers and slidably mounting said plates for rectilinearmovement along said wall portions for adjustable registration of theplate apertures with openings in the hopper wall portions to regulatethe discharge from said hoppers, chutes each having a rectangular upperperiphery secured to said channels along two of its sides and eachreceiving the discharge flow from a hopper with the remaining two sidesof the chutes being in sliding contact with a plate to prevent loss ofparticulate material, operator controlled means coupled to said flowregulating means and settable by the machine operator to adjust saidflow regulating means, said operator controlled means including,independent control levers for adjustment of each of the plates of eachflow regulating means, a pair of discs each supporting one end of acontrol lever, a base support for said discs, resilient pads interposedbetween said base support and each of said discs, adjustable meansextending through said support, pads and discs for biasing same intofrictional engagement to prevent control lever vibratory movement, ablower, and an air duct defining a mixing chamber and receiving anairflow from said blower, said air duct defining at least one openingfor the entry of the regulated flow of paRticulate material into saidduct.